Yes, Pluto really is a planet

There were numerous press reports generated in March of 1996 on the
eve of the release of new HST images of Pluto. Since then
this "issue" has flared up numerous times in the media (but NOT generally
within the scientific community). This situation changed in August 2006
during the International Astronomical Union meeting in Prague.
Much of the popular discussion seems to be more concerned with the status
Pluto. Under the new resolution passed by the IAU, they claim Pluto is
to be called a "dwarf planet". Will this resolution eliminate the
controversy and discussion? No. Whatever happens in the future you
can still call Pluto a planet and if you forget to include the word "dwarf"
I won't mind at all.

If you want to see what I think a planet is, click the link at the top
of the page. I've also provided some information on the IAU resolution
and the difficulties that I have with their resolution. Someday I hope
we can all get back to wondering about Pluto and the other exciting new
places in the outer solar system.

In the end, these definitions are useful only if they provide useful labels
that collect objects of similar properties together. Trying to "demote" Pluto
and rewrite the textbooks to go back to the good old days of only 8 planets
just isn't going to work. The solar system is far more complex and interesting
to be constrained by the new IAU resolution and future studies will help
bring out the ultimate truth.